Carex plant named ‘CarFit01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Carex  cultivar named ‘CarFit01’ is disclosed, characterized by very compact growth, distinctive white variegation on the leaf margins and strong root establishment and development. The new variety is a  Carex , suitable for commercial production in 15 to 19 inch pots.

Latin name of the genus and species: Carex oshimensis.

Variety denomination: ‘CarFit01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor, Patrick FitzGerald, acitizen of the Republic of Ireland in August of 2006 as a naturallyoccurring, whole plant mutation found in a group of tissue cultureplantlets in a commercial laboratory. The parent variety is anunpatented variety, Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold.’

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘CarFit01’ was first performedby tissue culture in Stoneyford, Kilkenny, Ireland in the Summer of 2007and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘CarFit01’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘CarFit01’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘CarFit01’ as a new and distinct Carex cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, easy to grow plants, well suited to landscape uses.    -   2. Distinctive white variegation on the margins of the leaf.    -   3. Suitability for commercial production in 15 to 19 cm pots.    -   4. Strong root establishment and development.

COMPARISON TO PARENT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘CarFit01’ are similar to plants of theparent variety Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, ‘CarFit01’ has distinctively differentcoloration, having white, rather than gold variegation.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘CarFit01’ differs from other varieties of Carix oshimensis as the onlyvariety with white, rather than gold variegation. ‘CarFit01’ mostclosely resembles Carex conica ‘Snowline,’ unpatented, however,‘CarFit01’ has longer, wider leaves of a brighter color, and produces amore vigorous plant with better root establishment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘CarFit01’ grown outdoors, in a 15 cm pot. Age of theplant photographed is 24 weeks. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘CarFit01’ plants grown outdoors in Irelandduring Spring. Temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 14° C. at night to 13°C. to 27° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodictreatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Carex oshimensis ‘CarFit01.’

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Perennial grass, forming clumps.-   Plant shape: Flattened globular.-   Height: Approximately 25.9 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 50.6 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Herbaceous shoots emerging basally, no    lateral branches.-   Number of shoots per plant: Approximately 50.-   Characteristics of shoots: Triangular shoot bases, typical of Carex.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 months.-   Roots: Fine and fibrous.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single        -   Quantity of leaves per shoot.—Average 5.        -   Average length.—Approximately 18 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Linear.        -   Aspect.—Slightly recurved.        -   Apex.—Long acuminate.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Smooth, but slightly sharp when rubbed downwards;            due to very small, teeth, too small to be visible.        -   Texture of top surface.—Moderately glossy, smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Between RHS Green 143A and            Yellow-Green 144A. Base Yellow-Green 144C. Tip Green 143A.            Leaf margin White 155C. Young foliage under side: Between            RHS Green 143A and Yellow-Green 144A. Base Yellow-Green            144C. Tip Green 143A. Leaf margin White 155C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green; 137A/B. Base Yellow-Green; 144B.            Leaf margin White 155A to Green-White 157D. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green; 137A/B. Base Yellow-Green; 144B.            Leaf margin White 155A to Green-White 157D.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Venation coloration upper side:            Indistinguishable from leaf blade. Venation coloration under            side: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Flower arrangement: Terminal raceme.-   Inflorescence type: Raceme, male and female flowers in separate    spikelets.-   Inflorescence height: Average 7.5 cm.-   Inflorescence width: Average. 0.9 cm.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Average 20 male flowers,    placed in an average of 1 spikelet. Average 80 female flowers,    placed in an average of 3 spikelets.-   Flower type: Typical single Carex flower(sedge like.)-   Flowering habit: Continuous from April through Summer.-   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: Average 100 flowers per shoot.-   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem: Average 100 flower buds    per shoot.-   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant: Average 2,400.-   Time to flower: Approximately 8 months from planting small rooted    division.-   Rate of flower opening: After the first flowers open in an    inflorescence, all flowers open within 3 weeks.-   Fragrance: None.-   Flower bud length: Average 0.2 cm.-   Flower bud diameter: Average 0.1 cm.-   Flower bud shape: Narrow ovate.-   Rate of opening: Flower open approximately 3 days after bud stage    described.-   Flower bud color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D.-   Flower aspect: Upright.-   Flower diameter: Male flowers average 0.4 cm. Female flowers average    0.15 cm.-   Flower depth: Average 1 cm, enclosed by 1 glume and a lemma. Female    flowers with 1 lemma.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 10 days.-   Persistence: Persistent.-   Petal appearance: Glume and lemma; smooth and matte.-   Petal texture: Flume and lemma; smooth. Petal arrangement: Glume at    the innerside of each flower, lemma at the outside, opposite the    glume.-   Petal number: Average 1 glume and 1 lemma.-   Petals fused: No.-   Petal shape: Glume and lemma lanceolate.-   Petal margin: Glume and lemma entire.-   Petal tip: Glume; long and narrow acute. Lemma; long mucronate.-   Petal length: Glume average 0.8 cm. Lemma average 0.8 cm.-   Petal width: Glume; average 0.05 cm. Lemma; average 0.1 cm.-   Petal color, when opening, upperside: Glume and lemma of male    flowers near RHS Greyed-Orange 165C. Lemma of femal flowers Near RHS    Greyed-Orange 164 C/D with a green central vein near RHS Green 143    B/C.-   Petal color, when opening, underside: Glume and lemma of male    flowers near RHS Greyed-Orange 165C. Lemma of femal flowers Near RHS    Greyed-Orange 164 C/D with a green central vein near RHS Green 143    B/C.-   Petal color, fully opened, upperside: Glume and lemma of male    flowers near RHS Greyed-Orange 165C. Lemma of femal flowers Near RHS    Greyed-Orange 164 C/D with a green central vein near RHS Green 143    B/C.-   Petal color, fully opened, underside: Glume and lemma of male    flowers near RHS Greyed-Orange 165C. Lemma of femal flowers Near RHS    Greyed-Orange 164 C/D with a green central vein near RHS Green 143    B/C.-   Petal color fading: Not fading.-   Petaloids: Not present.-   Sepals: No separate sepals visible.-   Calyx length: Average 1 cm.-   Calyx diameter: Average 0.15 cm.-   Peduncle length: Average 23.4 cm.-   Peduncle diameter: Average 0.1 cm.-   Peduncle angle: Straight, upright from center of shoot. Secondary    peduncles, from spikelets nearly straight, an average of 5° angle.-   Peduncle strength: Very strong.-   Peduncle color: Near RHS Green 137A.-   Pedicels: Not present.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamen number: Average 3.-   Anther shape: Basifixed.-   Anther size: Average 0.2 cm.-   Anther color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 164C/D.-   Quantity of pollen: Very low.-   Pollen color: Near light Greyed-Orange, however too little quantity    to measure with R.H.S. color chart.-   Pistil number: Average 3.-   Pistil length: Average 0.1 cm.-   Stigma shape: Fimbriate.-   Stigma color: Near RHS Grey-Brown 199B/C.-   Style length: Average 0.02 cm.-   Style color: Transparent Grey-Brown, too small to measure with    R.H.S. colour chart.-   Ovary color: Near RHS Green-White 157A to Greyed-Green 192D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Observed to tolerate    temperatures to at least 35° C. without any negative effects.    Temperature tolerance above this range has not been observed.    Tolerance of cold temperatures to −12° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Carex plant named ‘CarFit01’ as hereinillustrated and described.